Highlights:
- New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon congratulated India on winning the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup.
- Luxon humorously stated he was glad India defeated Australia in the semi-final.
- India became the fourth nation to win the Women’s World Cup and the third to do so on home soil.
- The final against South Africa was decided on the last ball in front of 45,000 spectators.
- The tournament set a new attendance record for women’s cricket events worldwide.
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon extended warm congratulations to the Indian women’s cricket team after their historic triumph in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup. Speaking during an interaction with ANI, Luxon expressed admiration for India’s exceptional performance, noting that the team displayed the skill, temperament, and determination of true champions.
The win holds special relevance for many cricket fans across the world, especially after India defeated Australia in the semi-final, a result that has long carried emotional significance among Trans-Tasman rivals.
Luxon candidly acknowledged that while New Zealand’s own team, the White Ferns, had aspired to lift the trophy, they were unable to reach the final stages this time. Despite that, he explained that the spirit of mutual respect and shared competitiveness in cricket remains strong among Commonwealth nations.
“I watched the highlights of the game last night against South Africa… I just want to say congratulations to them. They were outstanding, truly world-class, and they deserved to win,” Luxon said. He added in good humor, “We’re very proud of them even though we would have loved New Zealand to win... As long as someone beats Australia, that’s all we care about, and that’s what you guys do so well.”
India’s victory marked their first-ever Women’s Cricket World Cup title, placing them alongside only three other nations, Australia, England, and New Zealand, that have won the competition. Furthermore, India became just the third side to win the trophy on home soil, following in the footsteps of England and New Zealand.
This triumph also stands as a milestone for the growth of women’s cricket in India, a sport that has seen a phenomenal rise in visibility, fan engagement, and competitive depth over the past decade.
The final match, played at a packed stadium of 45,000 fans, showcased both high pressure and high drama. India faced South Africa in a contest that remained unpredictable until the final delivery. As the clock neared midnight, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur completed a catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk, sealing India’s win and sending the crowd into jubilant celebration. The electric atmosphere reflected not just support for the national team but also the widening popularity of women’s cricket as a whole.
This edition of the Women’s World Cup also broke records beyond the scoreboard. Attendance figures reached new heights, with India’s league stage match against Bangladesh drawing 25,965 spectators, setting a new global record for attendance at any ICC women’s event.
Remarkably, this number surpassed another record set earlier in the same tournament when 25,166 fans gathered to watch India play New Zealand. These audience numbers signify a transformative moment for women’s cricket, spotlighting its surging fanbase and commercial value.
As India continues to celebrate its latest cricketing chapter, Luxon’s spirited remark reflects the friendly rivalry, sportsmanship, and emotional ties that shape cricket culture across nations.
